LEBANON TWP. — The Lebanon Township Fire Department is apparently having trouble providing emergency first aid services during the day because of a lack of personnel.

The fire department took over first aid services about two years ago after a long-running dispute between the first aid squad and township leaders came to a head.

The Lebanon Township First Aid Squad Building

On April 30, Sabatino De Santis Jr., sent out a press release on behalf of the bankrupt Lebanon Township First Aid Squad saying that as of April 19, the township was being served by neighboring emergency services agencies.

The fire department has been posting its daily activities on its website and the last first aid call entry is April 19.

Mayor Brian Wunder confirmed that one Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) member resigned and another took a leave of absence. Those two were responding to most of the daytime calls, he said.

According to the squad press release, the two members who resigned from the Fire Department did so apparently because of the alleged misappropriation of Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) funds by the department administration.
Fire Department President Bernie Cryan, Vice President Paul Ibsen and Chief Ed Schaffer went to the April 18 Township Committee meeting because the fire department had concerns about how that money was handled.

Cryan said department officials were not sure if they were applying the program correctly and asked to meet with the township attorney. “We want to know how to right the ship. We have not gotten any guidance from anyone with experience. There are many contradictions on the website,” he said.

The matter was discussed in executive session that night.

Meanwhile, according to the squad’s press release, one of the services covering daytime calls has paid EMTs.

The idea of having paid EMTs or charging insurance companies for squad services were among the issues that created major friction between the squad and township leaders. Many squads in the state have turned to paying staff during the day when volunteers who work full-time are not available. The idea of charging for services or paying EMTs met with much opposition in the township.

Although considered a department within the township, the Lebanon Township Volunteer Fire Company is also a nonprofit corporation. The 2012 township budget includes $50,000 for the fire department, $10,000 more than in previous years. Expenses in 2010 were more than $140,000 and its total income was about $70,000, according to its tax return. Like many nonprofit organizations, the department has had to rely more on surplus as donations have declined due to the economy.

The fate of the squad’s building on West Hill Road was up for discussion at the May 1 Township Committee meeting. Wunder said all the paperwork was apparently ready for the township to acquire the building, and that the Township Committee might vote on it.

The Township Committee meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the municipal building on West Hill Road.